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Overview of joint involvement

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The clinical course of joint involvement is extremely variable:

  • may be a mild, self-limiting mono- or oligoarthitis
  • often an insidious symetrical polyarthritis
  • the most aggressive disease results in rapid disability with systemic inflammation and a high mortality rate

Often the disease begins in:

  • proximal finger joints
  • wrists

Later inflammation spreads to:

  • elbows
  • shoulders
  • knees
  • ankles
  • feet

Characteristic joint deformities include:

  • ulnar deviation of the fingers due to subluxation at the metacarpophalangeal joints
  • loss of finger function due to hyperextension of the PIP joints with fixed flexion of the DIP joints 'swan neck deformity'
  • fixed flexion of the PIP joints with hyperextension of the DIP joints 'boutonniere' or Z deformity of the thumb

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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